zlacker

> Until you can demonstrate that isn't the case then using crime statistics as an excuse for police actions will be questionable at best

What else can be used other than statistics? Is there some other common frame of reference out there?

>>jeegsy+(OP)
Well, among other things, if you simply poll people and ask about drug use, white people admit to using drugs at higher rates than black people but are punished much much less frequently for it.

So there are plenty of ways to acquire statistics and data other than through the biased system you are trying to examine. Think of it like going after a computer system that you suspect has been rooted. Do you want to use the system tools from that system to examine itself? Probably not.

>>jeegsy+(OP)
What else can be used other than statistics? Is there some other common frame of reference out there?

Qualitative research eg talking to people. Use empathy and compassion. Don't try to distill everything down to numbers.

>>jeegsy+(OP)
"There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics."

-Mark Twain

https://www.bing.com/search?form=MOZLBR&pc=MOZI&q=blacks+lie...

The problem with statistics is that you need to take lots of time and care to have all sides fully explain their position and be able to rebut counterarguments with more data. If you do this, you will get to the truth, which is why people who are wrong tend to push conspiracy theories in order to dismiss the data instead of putting forward testable arguments. There is no better (or worse) non-argument than the one that you assert can not be falsified a priori.

>>jellic+7v
> Well, among other things, if you simply poll people and ask about drug use, white people admit to using drugs at higher rates than black people but are punished much much less frequently for it.

If I recall correctly, there's a few confounding factors there - one is that survey results for "have you used drugs in the past week" show much higher relative use by African Americans than "have you used drugs in the past year". Another is that in other surveys African Americans were significantly more likely to answer "no" to "are you a convinced felon" given that they were actually convinced felons, so the survey results aren't necessarily accurate anyways.